Spacewatch: all aboard, China's open invitation to boldly go

With US funding for the International Space Station in doubt, Beijing is proposing that UN member states use its new orbiting research lab

Working through the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, the Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMSP) has invited applications from UN member states to conduct experiments on China’s space station. It is expected to launch next year and be ready for operations by 2022. It will consist of a core section with two attached laboratory modules. Three astronauts will be able to live onboard.